Head covering having metallic reflecting surface

ABSTRACT

An article of wearing apparel constructed of a material which is operable to reflect radiant energy away from a wearer and to prevent the rapid conduction of heat from an exterior surface to an interior surface thereof. A specific embodiment, comprising a hat having a crown portion constructed from the material is operable to reflect radiant energy away from a wearer&#39;&#39;s head and to prevent the rapid conduction of heat from an exterior surface to an interior surface of the crown portion. The hat is provided with a perforated crown portion to provide for the flow of air through the crown portion and may be provided with a visor portion constructed of the material of the crown portion. The material is also operable to reduce glare from remote objects when the crown portion is interposed between the object and a viewer with the exterior surface of the crown portion facing the object.

United States Paten n91 Cozzens 1 Oct. 23, 1973 I-IEAD COVERING HAVING METALLIC REFLECTING SURFACE [75] Inventor: Jerold E. Cozz ens, Albuquerque, N.

Mex,

[73] Assignee: A Ray-Ban Solarscreen, Inc.,

Abuquerque, N. Mex.

[22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 87,371

[ References Cited q UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,632,174 3/1953 Lyon 2/176 3,691,564 9/1972 LaMarre et al 2/2 2,619,639 1'2/1952 Hend|er 2/18l.2 X

79,420 *6/1868 Waterman et a1. 2/200 3,463,150 8/1969 Penfold 2/2.l R 2,884,337 4/1959 Homer et al 117/35 V 3,591,400 7/1971 Palmquist et al. 2/81 X 1,405,061 ,l/l922 Mouromtzeff et al. 2/7 3,029,438 4/ 1962 Henschel 2/7 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 808,342 3/1952 Germany 2/81 764,335 12/1956 Great Britain .,2/7

Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorney-Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [57] ABSTRACT An article of wearing apparel constructed of a material which is operable to reflect radiant energy away from a wearer and to prevent the rapid conduction of heat from an exterior surface to an interior surface thereof. A specific embodiment, comprising a hat having a crown portion constructed from the material is operable to reflect radiant energy away from a wearers head and to prevent the rapid conduction of heat from an exterior surface to an interior surface of the crown portion. The hat is provided with a perforated crown portion to provide for the flow of air through the crown portion and may be provided with a visor portion constructed of the material of the crown portion. The material is also operable to reduce glare from remote objects when the crown portion is interposed between the object and a viewer with the exterior surface of the crown portion facing the object.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEDnmza m5 SHEET 10F 2 \NVENTOR JEROLD E. COZZENS 00W, KM 01 & W/ovkhf.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDUNZB ms v 3.766.565 SHEET 2 {IF 2 I-IEADCOVERING HAVING METALLIC REFLECTING SURFACE BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION The present invention relates to hats, and more particularly, relates to a novel radiant energy reflective" hat.

It is generally known that hats provide a shading effect and are extremely useful in open areas on sunny days. On particularly sunny days, the shade provided by a hat protects the wearers head from the direct rays of the sun. This blockage of the suns rays affords some degree of protection butdoes not necessarily keep the wearers head cooler than if he were not wearing a hat, since radient energy is absorbed by the hat and conducted through the crown portion of the hat to the interior space between the crown-portion of the hat and the wearers head.

In an attempt to eliminate the build up of heat, hats having ventilating means have been developed. While this has helped somewhat in alleviating the problem of heat build up, the absorption and conduction of radiant energy still presents a problem.-

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel hat which obviates these and other problems of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to previde a novel, lightweight hat, particularly suited for sports wear, which keeps the wearers head relatively cool under extremely sunny conditions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel hat which has a reflective outer surface.

It is yet afurther object of the present invention to provide a novel hat means'for reflecting radiant energy away from a wearers head and having means for conducting radiant energy away from the vicinity of the wearers head.

These and other objects and advantages are accomplished by the had of the present invention by providing a hat having a novel crown portion. The crown portion has a plurality of apertures therethrough to provide for air flow and includes a self-supporting, apertured sheet of substrate material having a low thermal conductivity and having radiant energy reflecting means carried thereby toreflect radiant energy away from an exterior surface of the crown portion.

I THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of the hat of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the peripheral edge of the hat of FIG. .1, taken along the line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview of a preferred material for use in the hat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hat of FIG. 2, taken along the line 5-5; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a cut-away portion of the hat of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the hat of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 the hat generallycomprises a crownportion l and preferably includes' a visor portion 12.

The crown portion 10 has an exterior surface 14, an interior surface 16 (see FIG. 3) and a peripheral edge 18 defining a head receiving opening.

The visor portion 12 is preferably connected to a portion of the peripheral edge 18 but may completely encircle the crown portion 10. The visor portion 12 extends outwardly from the crown portion 10 generally in a plane defined by the peripheral edge 18. Provision may be made for adjusting the hat to various head sizes by providing an adjustable or flexible strap 20 extending across a cut out portion 22 at the rear of the crown portion 10. v

The crown portion 10 may be constructed in any suitable conventional manner. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a single sheet of material notched to provide six V-shaped panels 24 may be sewn together as illustrated thereby providing a crown portion 10 having side walls extending substantially vertically from the peripheral edge 18 and a top extending between the side walls to thereby enclose the end of the crown portion 10 opposite the head receiving opening.

Referrring now to FIG. 3, the peripheral edge 18 may be formed by doubling over the material of the crown portion 10 and a perspiration band 26 may be sewn or otherwise suitably fastened to the doubled over portion of the crown material as illustrated schematically at 28. The visor portion 12 of the hat may be connected to the edge 18 of the crown portion 10 of the hat in any suitable conventional manner. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, one end 30 of a material 32 covering the upper side of the visor portion 12 may be wrapped around a stiffening member 34, such as a piece of cardboard. The edge 30 of the material 32 may be sewn or otherwise fastened to one edge 36 of a piece of material 38 covering the lower surface of the visor portion 12, as illustrated schematically at 40. The other end 42 of the material 32 and the other end 44 of the material 38 may be interposed between the crown portion 10 of the hat and the perspiration band 26 and secured therebetween in a suitable manner, for example, by sewing the four layers together as illustrated schematically at 46. Further stitching or other suitable fastening means may be utilized in appropriate places, for example, as illustrated schematically at 48, to provide additional rein- .forcement. Since, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the

intersecting line between the visor portion 12 and the crown portion 10 is curved, the visor portion 12 is supported in a generally horizontal position when connected to the crown portion 10 as described above.

The crown portion 10 of the hat of the present invention is preferably contructed of a thin, lightweight laminated or coated material. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the material preferably comprises a substantially pliable, selfsupporting sheet of substrate'material 50, having a low thermal conductivity, i.e., a thermal conductivity substantially lower than that of metals and alloys thereof. The thermal conductivity of the substrate 50 is therefore preferably below 5.0 B.t.u./(hr.)(sq.ft.)(F.)(ft.) when measured at a temperature of 73.4 Fahrenheit. More specifically, a preferred ranged of thermal conductivity of the substrate material 50 is about 0046-1 .0 B.t.u.l(hr.)(sq.ft.)(F.)(ft.) at 73.4 F., since this range includes most suitable plastic and fibrous materials, e.g., paper and cloth.

The exterior surface of the substrate material 50 is substantially covered by a radiant energy reflecting material 52 which preferably defines the exterior surface of the crown portion of the hat. The radiant energy reflecting material 52 is preferably a thin, pliable film of a material having the metallic property of reflectivity. A very thin coating or film of a suitable metal or ally thereof such as aluminum, copper or bronze, deposited on the surface of the substrate 50 by a suitable conventional technique, e.g. a technique utilizing a catalyzed decomposition of a hydride of the metal or ally, is preferred.

A preferred material for use as the crown portion 10 is commercially available aluminized, coppered or bronzed polyester film, more specifically, metal coated MYLAR, having a thickness in the range of about 0.009 to 0.021 inches. The coated polyester flim is passed through a suitable punch die to provide substantially uniformly spaced apertures or perforations 53 over substantially the entire area of the crown portion 10. This provides a substantially flat, reflective, exposed outer surface on the crown portion 10.

The exterior surface of the coated polyester film may also be configured so that radiant energy striking the reflective surface is diffused and therefore does not cause overly distracting glare. As shown in FIG. 4, this may be accomplished, for example, by providing slight indentations or depressions 55 in the material during the punching process. Thus, while the crown portion 10 reflects radiant energy, the overall appearance of the crown portion 10 may be enhanced since objectionable glare is reduced. In addition, various desired textural appearances may be obtained in this manner.

The above described crown portion 10 of the hat of the present invention is extremely advantageous in that radiant energy, such as sunlight is reflected away from the wearer's head by the exterior surface of the crown portion 10. Very little radiant energy is thus absorbed by the the crown portion 10 of the hat and any radiant energy which is absorbed is not readily conducted through the substrate 50 to the interior of the crown portion 10 adjacent the wearers head. Moreover, should the interior surface of the crown portion 10 come into contact with the wearers head any heat created by the absorption of radiant energy by the reflective material is not rapidly transferred to the wearers head by conduction as would otherwise occur if the reflective material came into direct contact with the wearer's head. Also, the apertures 53 provide communication between the interior surface of the crown portion and the exterior surface of the crown portion so that air may flow through the crown portion 10, thereby permitting the evaporation of perspiration which likewise aids in keeping the wearers head cool.

In addition, a layer or coating of thermally conductive material. illustrated in phantom at 54 in FIG. 3, may be provided to aid in conducting heat away from the vicinity of the wearer's head. However, in the preferred form of the present invention, the substrate 50 is black or extremely dark in color and thus absorbs heat more readily to provide a further cooling effect in the vicinity of the wearers head.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the material 32 which is stretched across the upper surface of the visor 12 is preferably the same as the material utilized for the crown portion 10. This material provides a reflective upper surface of the visor portion 12 and additionally prevents the discoloration of the outer surface of the visor portion 12 by perspiration or other forms of moisture.

As previously described the outer surface of the crown portion 10 of the hat of the present invention reflects radiant energy and the inner surface thereof absorbs radiant energy. These properties, when combined with the provision of properly sized and spaced apertures, provide another particularly advantageous feature which may be extremely useful, by way of example, on a golf course on a very sunny day. This above described combination substantially eliminates undesirable effects of light, i.e., glare from reflective su r faces or particularly bright direct light, when a remote object is viewed through the crown portion 10 of the hat with the exterior reflective surface of the crown portion 10 facing the remote object, i.e, when the light from the remote object passes through the apertures from the exterior surface of the crown portion toward the interior surface of the crown portion prior to striking the viewers eye.

This feature is extremely helpful on sunny days on a golf course, for example, where the players must follow the flight of a golf ball. By interposing the crown portion 10 of the hat between the viewers eye and the fairway, the flight of the ball may be followed against a very bright background.

One relationship between the size of the apertures and the spacing therebetween which provides the above desirable result when used in combination with the dark interior surface and the reflective exterior surface appears to be a ratio of 2:1 which in turn provides a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total surface area of the crown portion 10 and the total area of the apertures.

This relationship may be more clearly understood with reference to FIG. 6 wherein a preferred form of the invention is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the apertures or perforations through the material comprising the crown portion 10 of the hat are preferably circular perforations having a diameter d. The apertures may be positioned symmetrically as illustrated so that a square 56, the corners of which are coincident with the centers of four adjacent apertures as illustrated, has sides equal in length to approximately 3d/2. The surface of the crown portion may be considered to include a large number of these squares. Thus, the ratio between the diameter of the aperatures and the spacing between immediately adjacent apertures may be considered to be 2:1.

This relationship may also be described in terms of area. The area of the square 56 removed by the apertures is approximately 3:14dl4 or the approximate area of one aperture. The solid area of the square 56, i.e., the area of the crown portion material, is approximately 5.86d /4. Thus, the relationship between the total area of the crown portion 10 and the total crosssectional area of all the apertures is approximately a ratio of 2:1.

Another factor which may affect the light filtering quality of the crown portion 10 is the relationship between the aperture or perforation diameter and the material thickness. It has been found that a ratio as high as about 521 between the diameter of the apertures and the material thickness provides effective light filtering in combination with the other factors which appear to have an effect on filtering.

it should be understood that the principles taught in connection with the description of the preferred embodiment may be. applied to a variety of types of hats and that the present invention is not restricted to sports hats or caps. For example, it is contemplated that construction hard hats and other work or dress hats may be contructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristrics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of .the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising:

' a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface;

said interior surface having a perforated selfsupporting sheet of substrate material throughout operable to impede conduction of heat;

said exterior surface having a perforated flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means throughout operable to reflect energy away from said crown portion;

indentation means in said metallic reflecting means operable to diffuse radiant energy and reduce glare; and

light filtering means comprising said perforations in said interior and said exterior surfaces of said crown portion to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and including a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening in said crown portion and further including a visor portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of said peripheral edge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said visor includes radiant energyreflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of a polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforations have a diameter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total surface area of said crown portion and the total area of the perforationsyand said crown portion has a thickness sufficient for a ratio of approximately 5:1 between the diameter of the perforations and the thickness of said crown portion.

6. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising:

a crown portion having a plurality of perforations throughout of a sufficient diameter and spacing to provide for both:

a flow of air through said crown portion, and

a substantial reduction of glare eminating from light passing through said crown portion when an object is viewed through said crown portion;

said crown portion comprising:

a self-supporting sheet of substrate material throughout said crown portion and operable to impede conduction of heat,

flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means carried by said substrate material throughout an exterior surface of said crown portion, said reflecting means being operable to reflect radiant energy away from said crown portion light filter means comprising:

a plurality of said perforations covering substantially the entire area of said crown portion, said perforations being closely spaced and having a diamter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total area of said crown portion and the total area of said perforations, said perforations being cooperable with said substrate and said reflecting means to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening in said crown portion and further including a visor portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of said peripheral edge.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said visor includes radiant energy reflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum.

10. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising:

a crown portion comprising:

a self-supporting sheet of substrate material having a thermal conductivity below 5 .0 B.t.u./hr.(sq.ft.)(F)(ft.) at 73.4 F disposed throughout said crown portion and operable to impede conduction of heat;

flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means disposed throughout said crown portion and carried by said substrate material, said reflecting means being operable to reflect radiant energy away from said crown portion;

indentation means in said metallic reflecting means operable to diffuse radiant energy and reduce glare; and

light filter means integral with said crown portion and comprising:

a plurality of perforations throughout said crown portion to provide for both a flow of air through said crown portion and a passage of light therethrough,,said perforations being cooperable with said substrate material and said reflecting means to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object;

said perforations being closely spaced and having a diameter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said visor includes radiant energy reflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum. 

1. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising: a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface; said interior surface having a perforated self-supporting sheet of substrate material throughout operable to impede conduction of heat; said exterior surface having a perforated flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means throughout operable to reflect energy away from said crown portion; indentation means in said metallic reflecting means operable to diffuse radiant energy and reduce glare; and light filtering means comprising said perforations in said interior and said exterior surfaces of said crown portion to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 and including a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening in said crown portion and further including a visor portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of said peripheral edge.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said visor includes radiant energy reflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of a polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforations have a diameter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total surface area of said crown portion and the total area of the perforations; and said crown portion has a thickness sufficient for a ratio of approximately 5:1 between the diameter of the perforations and the thickness of said crown portion.
 6. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising: a crown portion having a plurality of perforations throughout of a sufficient diameter and spacing to provide for both: a flow of air through said crown portion, and a substantial reduction of glare eminating from light passing through said crown portion when an object is viewed through said crown portion; said crown portion comprising: a self-supporting sheet of substrate material throughout said crown portion and operable to impede conduction of heat, flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means carried by said substrate material throughout an exterior surface of said crown portion, said reflecting means being operable to reflect radiant energy away from said crown portion light filter means comprising: a plurality of said perforations covering substantially the entire area of said crown portion, said perforations being closely spaced and having a diameter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total area of said crown portion and the total area of said perforations, said perforations being cooperable with said substrate and said reflecting means to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening in said crown portion and further including a visor portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of said peripheral edge.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said visor includes radiant energy reflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum.
 10. A combination of a head covering and light filter apparatus comprising: a crown portion comprIsing: a self-supporting sheet of substrate material having a thermal conductivity below 5.0 B.t.u./hr.(sq.ft.)(* F)(ft.) at 73.4* F disposed throughout said crown portion and operable to impede conduction of heat; flexible metallic radiant energy reflecting means disposed throughout said crown portion and carried by said substrate material, said reflecting means being operable to reflect radiant energy away from said crown portion; indentation means in said metallic reflecting means operable to diffuse radiant energy and reduce glare; and light filter means integral with said crown portion and comprising: a plurality of perforations throughout said crown portion to provide for both a flow of air through said crown portion and a passage of light therethrough, said perforations being cooperable with said substrate material and said reflecting means to substantially eliminate glare when said apparatus is interposed between a remote object and a viewer with said reflecting means generally facing the remote object; said perforations being closely spaced and having a diameter sufficient for a ratio of approximately 2:1 between the total area of said crown portion and the total area of said perforations.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 and including a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening in said crown portion and further including a visor portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of said peripheral edge.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said visor includes radiant energy reflecting means carried by a surface of said visor operable to reflect radiant energy away from said visor.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said interior surface comprises a sheet of polyester film and wherein said metallic radiant energy reflecting means comprises aluminum. 